Word: illusioners
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But before jumping to condemn Clinton for the lies we eagerly embraced during the campaign, we should consider our own role in disseminating the illusion. Moderate voters--the famous Reagan Democrats--were disenchanted by Bush and ready to accept Clinton's claim to moderacy.
But anyone who believed Clinton would fulfill every promise he made during the campaign--anyone who believed he would cut the deficit in half, dramatically redistribute America's wealth, reverse twelve years of misguided spending priorities, reform health care and tax only the wealthiest Americans--anyone who bought this illusion...
The expectation that the entire Clinton agenda would be enacted by now was fostered by a second illusion on which Clinton founded his campaign. This illusion, which even Clinton may have believed, was the assumption that everything could be accomplished with a presidential command. It was common during the campaign...
These limits guarantee frustration for the president and his supporters, and they diminish the possibility that he will fulfill all of his promises soon. Furthermore, the third illusion that Clinton's campaign fostered makes it even less likely that the electorate's high expectations will be satisfied.
This illusion pretended that if Democrats controlled the presidency and Congress, gridlock would end. During the campaign, liberals could list the well-intentioned legislation that had been passed recently and sigh, "If only Bush hadn't vetoed it...."